Temperature indicator



May 19, 1942. J. 1. LINER TEMPERATURE INDICATORv Filed May 20, 1959 INVENTOR JOSEPH LINER ORNEYS v Panarea May 19, 1942 J UNITED i STATES PATENT I ori-Ica V 'rsmrannlvmcua 'i Joseph I. Liner, Toledo, Ohio Y Apllluon M! 2.0, 1939, slll N0. 2,4,859 5 claims. (ci. zei-4s) This invention relates to prfessi'ire-responslvev devices, more particularly to pressure-responsive -devices suitable for actuating a remote electrical indicating device and which is also capable of being readily adapted, to measure temperature sure-responsive devices are utilized, it is often de-V sirable to have an apparatus which is capable of responding to a relatively wide range o! pressure.

tect the pressure system from leakage should a rupture occur within the. device.

It is a further obiect of this invention to provide a pressure-responsive device which operates a rheostatic device with a minimum o! variation between the-readings while the pressure is building up and the readings while the pressure is This type of instrument. however, in general, hasl a disadvantage that if a large range of pre'ssure is to be indicated on an indicating instrument, the

' scale divisions are in general very small, so that small changes of pressure will not be accurately indicated on the'scale. This is particularly true' at the lower scale readings on the indicating in strument where it is often desirable to obtain accurate readings of very low pressures and, at the same time ,provide a scale capable of indicating pressures over a relatively wide range.

This invention contemplates the provision ota pressure-responsive device which will give-acculrate readings at low scale values and which will, -after a certain predetermined pressure has been attained, change its'deiiection'v` ratio automatif v tionate to the temperature.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a linkage between the temperaure 'or pressure-responsive device for acuating a rheostatic tion.

dropping oil'.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pressure-responsive device which is capable o! being' readily adapted to a temperature indicating device.

Other objects and advantages o! this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and function ofthe relatedelements of the structure, to various details of construction, to combinations of parts and to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specilication wherein like reierence characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is an elevational view ,partly in sec- Figure 2 is an elevational view taken along the line 2-2 o1 Figure l.

Figure 3 is, an elevational view similar to that shown in Figure 1, showing a modification of the internal arrangements of the pressure-responsive device.

Figure 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing an adaptationior measurement of temperature.

Referring particularly to Figure l of the drawing, a body portion IIIv is provided which has an internal bore II to form a cup-shaped receptacle, in which active members of the pressureresponsive device are positioned and by which a pressure chamber is formed to act upon the active A members. The lower portion of the body III is device which will have a minimum of lag, so that I accurate readings may be attained at the indicating head while the changes progress upwardly or downwardly on the scale.

It is, therefore, an object oi' this invention to provide a pressure-responsive devicel which is adapted to respond` to low pressure with a relatively high displacement per unit of pressure which will automatically alterits ratio of deflection to a substantially lower displacement per unit of pressure after a predetermined pressure value has been attained.

It is lla. further object of this invention to pro` vide a pressure-responsive device which will proprovided with a" threaded boss Ia, which`y is adapted to attach the body III to any pressure system and to place the pressure chamber II in communication therewithl by a passage-way I2l which is provided in the boss IIIa.

A counter-bore I2a, concentric with the chamber II, is provided between the passage-way I2 and the chamber Il to form a guide-way for the lower end of a stem I 3 which is formed with a knob I3a to it the bore IZa and allow a sliding relation therebetween to permit ready'movement ot the stem I3 longitudinally of the bore. The lower end of the stem I3 is provided with a counter-bore I3e which communicates with a portion of the stem I3 to form shoulders I3c.

The stud I3b is adapted to -project through a flanged aperture I4 which is formed in a central location in a plate I5 fitted against a face I8 of the body I and held in position thereagainst bya concentric turned-over flange I1 formed on the body I0. In this way, the stem |3 is adapted for longitudinal movementin the chamber II, and counter-bore |2a cooperating with the knob I3a and the flanged aperture I4 in the plate I5 cooperating with the stud I3b guide the stem I3 during its longitudinal movement. The flange of the aperture Iii is adapted to form a centeringA seat for a spring I8 which acts between the plate I and the bottom I9 of a metallic bellows 20 which is positioned concentrically in the chamber II and is adapted to cooperate with the stem I3 by having an aperture ISa, so that the bottom I9 is fitted against a shoulder I3d on the stem I3, being soldered thereto, as is disclosed in Figure l. The upper end of the bellows is provided with a supporting ring 2| which is fitted to the bellows by means of a turned-over flange 20a adapted to embrace the ring 2|, the ring and the flange snugly fitting into the bore of the chamber II and are preferably soldered into position therein at a position relatively adjacent the supporting plate I5. The ring and bellows close the chamber II, so that a fluid-pressure may act on the outside of the bellows, which, upon formation of pressure in the chamber II, tends to contract, so that the stem I3 will be thrust upwardly (Figure 1) to force the stud I3b through the flanged aperture I4 to actuate devices to be described hereinafter.`

The bellows, upon contraction, applies a force to the stem I3 at the shoulder |3d to compress the spring I8 in some proportion to the amount of pressure formed in the chamber II. The

" shoulder |3c will abut against the flange of the aperture A on the plate I5 when the pressure formed in the chamber II reaches a predetermined maximum pressure for which the device was designed. Upon release of pressure in the chamber I'I, the spring I8, acting on the inside of the bellows 20, will thrust its bottom I9 against the bottom wall of the chamber II to determine the conditions at zero reading of the device.

The platev I5 is provided with an upstanding portion 5a (Figure 2) which has at its upper end a `forwardly displaced parallel portion |8b having lateral extensions I5c to which is attached by means of rivets 22, an insulating plate 23, around which a. resistance coil 24 is wound to form a variable resistance unit adapted to cooperate in electric circuit with an indicating head such as is disclosed in Serial No. 151,245, filed June 30, 1937. The turns of the resistance coil 24 are insulated from the portion |5b by means ofan insulating plate which is juxtaposed therebetween, being also supported by rivets 22. Adjacent its end, the insulating plate 23 is provided with depending portions 23a, in which riv-y ets 28 are positioned which cooperate with the ends of the resistance coil 24a-for convenient electrical connection.

A slide member 21 is provided to cooperate with the resistance coil 24 by being adapted to swing an arc across its surface to vary the resistance effective in an extraneous indicating circuit including an indicating instrument such as mentioned supra. The slide member 21 is adapted to swing in the arc by being mounted upon one arm of a bell-crank member 28 which is fitted into a slot 29 formed in the upper end of the stud |317 of the stem and is held in pivoted relation therewith by means of a pintle 30 which threads aligned apertures in the bell-crank and bifurcations of the stud I3. The other arm 28a of the bellcrank is conformed as a hook to cooperate with one end of a resilient spring `3I whose other end is anchored on a forwardly projecting portion 32 of a bracket 33 which is pivoted about a rivet 34 positioned n the upstanding portion I5a. Adjacent a central location, a slot 35 is provided in the bracket 33 to cooperate with a yscrew 38 which is in threaded relation with an aperture in the upstanding portion I5a so as to allow AAthe bracket 33 to be fixed in a desired position after the spring 3| has been adjusted to a'proper operating tension. This tension should be sufiicient to hold the arm 28a of the bell-crank into cooperative relation at all times with an anchor pin 31, preferably riveted in position on the upstanding portion I5a so as to project into the path of the movement of the arm 28a.

As the stem I3 moves upwardly under contraction of the bellows 2|! as effected by an increase in pressure in chamber II, the relation between the pintle 30 of the bell-crank 28 and the anchor pin 31 cooperating with the arm 28a will change so as to cause the slide member 21 that as the pressure impressed in the chamber- II decreases, the bellows 20 will again. expand to retract the pin I3 and allow the spring to maintain contactual relation between thearm 28a of the bell-crank and the anchor pin 31, so as to return the slide member 21 to its initial position.

` To protect the active portions of the rheostatic device from atmospheric conditions, particularly from moisture, a metallic cap 40 is provided which completely encloses the parts as is clearly' shown in Figure 1 and is provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending annular flange 4I which cooperates with the upper face of the body member III, The flange 4I is adapted to be attached tol the body member by means of an integral inturned flange 42 which is rolled over the outwardly extending flange 4|. vGasket means 43 is provided between the outwardly extending flange 4| and the upper face of the'body member III to form a leak-proof joint.

Referring to Figure 2, a side of the casing 40 which is adjacent the rear side oi' the upwardly extending portion I5a is provided with a flattened portion 40a and an intermediate boss 48h which is perforated to allow the mounting of binding posts 44 by means of hollow rivets 45. Insulating material 4S is provided to insulate the rivet 45 and binding post 44 from the cap 40. Two

binding posts are preferably supplied in the cap member 48 being connected with the rivets 26 by means of connecting wires 41. The wires 41 are threaded through the aperture 45a of the hollow rivet 45 and are soldered at 46 to the rivet to form a leak-proof joint.

In this manner the ends of the rheostatic coil 24 are capable of being connected in an extraneous electric circuit through the medium of binding posts 44. The slide member 2l is mounted on the body' member I0 and is grounded thereby, so that its position with reference to the resistance coil 24 is capable of determining the responsiveness of an indicating head referred to above in an extraneous circuit in a proportion to the pressure in the chamber II.

Referring to Figure 3, a modiilcation of pressure-responsive devices is shown in which spring I8a, positioned on the interior of the bellows 2U, is made relatively shorter than the distance between the bottom I9 of the bellows and theplate,

is connected to the pressure-responsive device byv means of duct 5I located at a distance remote from the bulb 50. The bulb 50 is subjected to temperature change in an enclosed space S, so,

illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since so` that the spring I8a does not become eiective to restrain the collapse ofi the bellows under change of pressure about the bellows until the bellows has collapsed a predetermined distance, at which position the spring will contact the plate I5. This construction allows the bellows to respond at a pressure relatively lower to give a predetermined deflection than that pressure which is necessary to give the same deilection when both the bellows and the spring 8a are acting to restrain movement of the stem I3. This as particularly advantageous if a bellows is selected which is capable of being completely collapsed when subjected to a relatively low pressure, for example, pounds per square inch. When the pressure of 15 pounds per square inch is imposed upon the exterior of the bellows, the bellows will give its maximum deflection, so that any further increase in pressure will be ineffective to change its position. If a springIBa is now positioned on the interior of the bellows, so that its ends will contact the bottom I9 of the bellows and the supporting plate l5 at a point where the bellows has as yet not attained its'maximum deection, it is clear that a pressure-responsive limitation, and it is not intended to limit the the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used in the specification relating to the operation and function of the elements of the invention is employed for purposes of description and not of try means for the pressure chamber to place the means may be provided which will respond to the relatively low pressures impressed upon the bellows, while the loading spring I8 is still free to give accurate readings of the low pressure values until such point of collapse of the bellows is attained at which the loading spring becomes effective. At this point, the pressures acting upon the bellows must be substantially increased to obtain the same deflection from the bellows because the deilection is restrained both vby the resistance oi' the bellows and the loading spring Isa. The position ol the slide l21 on the resistance coil 24 Imay, therefore, be calibrated with reference to a scale of an indicating head such as mentioned above in a manner that the first twenty per cent ,of deflection of the slide, as controlled by the contractive resistance of the bellows, may be made responsive to the low pressure values, while the remaining eighty per cent may be made responsive to the relatively high pressures as determined by the combined resistance of the belchamber in communication with a source of pressure, a resistance fixedly attached to the container, stem means attached to the bellows and adapted to move longitudinally therewith under varying pressures in the pressure chamber, guide means adjacent the entry means for the stem to-` maintain straight line motion, a bell-crank'pivoted on the end of the stem means adjacent the resistance to translate the longitudinal movement of the stem means into a transverse movement. a slide means for the resistance attached to one arm of the bell-crank, a fixed fulcrum in the path of the other arm to oscillate the bellcrank under the longitudinal movement of the stem means to move the slide means across the resistance to vary the impedance in an extraneous signaling circuit, and resilient means holding the'second arm of the bell-crank in contact with the fixed fulcrum.

2. In a device of the class described, a bellows, a cup-shaped container of relatively rigid material to partially enclose the bellows and form a pressure chamber on the exterior thereof, en-

try means for the pressure chamber to place the means for the stem means adjacent the ends thereof to maintain straight line motion when moved by the bellows, a resistance xedly vattached to the container adjacent one end oi the stem means, a bellcrank pivoted on the end ofA the stem means -to translate longitudinal movement of the stem means into a transverse movement, a slide means for theA resistance attached to one arm of the bellcrank, a fixed Iulcrum in .the path of the other arm to oscillate the bellcrank by the longitudinal movement of the stem I means to move the slide means across the resist- -ance to -vary the impedance in an extraneous .i for the pressure chamberv to place the chamber in communication with a source of pressure, stem means positioned centrally oi' the bellows and adapted to move longitudinally therewith under collapse by varying pressuresin the pressure chamber, guide means for the stem means adiacent each end thereof to maintain straight line motion during the movement ot the stem means by the collapse of the bellows, stop means cooperating with the stem means to limit the movement of the stem means, a resistance xedly attached to the container adjacnt one end of the stem means and adapted to lie substantially in the plane of motion of the stem means, a bellcrank pivoted on the end of the stem means adjacent the resistance having a slide attached to one arm thereof for moving across the resistance, a iixed fulcrum in the path of the other arm to osciilate the bellcrank by longitudinal movement of the stem means to move the slide means across A the resistance to vary the impedance in an extral theA pressure chamber in communication with a source of pressure, stem means extending centrally of the bellows and iixediy attached tb the bottom thereof whereby the stem means is moved longitudinally with the bellows under collapse thereof by varying pressures in the pressure chamber, guide means for the ends oi' the stem means to maintain straight line motion of the aasasvs stem means, stop means to limit the motion of the siem means under the influence of the vbeilows, a resilient means embracing the stem means and cooperating with the bellows to load the bellows, a resistance iixedly attached to the container in the plane of movement of the stem means. a bellcrank pivoted on the end of the stem means adjacent the resistance having a slide attached to one arm thereof to cooperate with the resistance, a fixed fulcrum in the path of the other arm of the bellcrank to osciliate the slide over the resistance under the longitudinal movement o! the stein means in response to collapse oi' the bellows by varying pressures in the pressure chamber to vary the impedance in an extraneous signaling circuit in proportion to the pressure in the pressure chamber, and means for holding the second arm of the bellcrank in contact with the fixed fuicrum. l

5. In a device of the class described, a cupshaped container of relatively rigid material, a bellows attached to the lip of the cup-shaped container and adapted to extend into the interior thereof to form a pressure chamber therewith on the exterior of the bellows, entry means in the cup-shaped container to place the pressure chamber in communication with a source of pressure, a second cup-shaped container whose rim is attached to the lip o! the iirst cup-shaped container to form a second pressure chamber with the interior of the bellows, stem means attached to the bellows and adapted to move longitudinally therewith by the collapse of the bellows under varying pressures in the first pressure chamber, guide means for each end of the stem means to maintain straight line motion. a resistance tixedly attached to the first container and positioned within the second container adjacent one end of the stem means, a bellcrank centrally pivoted on the end of the stem means adjacent the resistance having a slide attached.

to one arm thereof for movement over the resistance, a xed fulcrum in the path of the other arm to oscillate the bellcrank under the longitudinal movement of the stem means to move the slide across the resistance, and means for holding the second arm of the bellcrank in contact with the lilxed fulcrum.

JOSEPH I. LINER. 

